Cinéfranco 2010 Day 6 - Wednesday March 31, 2010

Day 6 at Cinéfranco was all about relationships, love and a few unique mother-children relationships. It was also a great opportunity to see fantastic female performances from Michèle Laroque in Dans tes bras / In Your Arms to powerhouse Sandrine Bonnaire in Un coeur simple / A Simple Heart, today certainly felt like ladies night.

Dans tes bras / In Your Arms
Dir: Hubert Gillet
Cast: Martin Loizillon, Michèle Laroque, Lola Naymark, Catherine Mouchet
France

Unreleased and unrealized emotions hold the current of Dans tes bras / In Your Arms. Martin Loizillon stars as the 16 year old Louis as someone who doesn't quite seem comfortable in their own skin and is searching for answers. He gives quick a spectacular performance that even leaving things unsaid, we see so much. Paired up against Michèle Laroque as Solange, the two have dynamic and charged encounters throughout the film. I loved how Dans tes bras / In Your Arms didn't shy away from the awkwardness of the situations that are created. It showcases how with family, regardless of how close you are or not, you certainly have a strong feeling of how encounters will go but so often you can be really off the mark.

The only downside was that I did feel something lost in the translation. My French is nowhere near strong enough to straight up understand what I'm hearing, but it's strong enough to know when things aren't as they seem. Could be the writing, or more even phrases where the literal translation just doesn't mean the same thing, but a few times it did feel like I was missing something. That being said, it was really about the relationships and performances which were very well done.



Un coeur simple / A Simple Heart
Dir: Marion Laine
Cast: Sandrine Bonnaire, Marina Foïs, Pascal Elbé, Patrick Pineau
France

Based on the short story by Gustave Flaubert, Un coeur simple / A Simple Heart is an astonishing adaptation to film from director Marion Laine. Centred on the main character of Félicité, in an unbelievable performance from Sandrine Bonnaire, we follow her literally simple life. Described as someone who is just a little odd, it goes to show that being odd doesn't mean you don't have a wealth of emotions and a hell of a lot to give. It's a challenging story in many ways, but also a beautiful one as well. Through heartbreak and loss but also an overwhelming sense of openness and simply joys. A rare treat.

Cinéfranco 2010 runs from March 26 - April 3, 2010 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Eclipse Stills

In case you haven't seen the three new images from the upcoming film The Twilight Saga: Eclipse (to be released June 30, 2010), here they are in their hi res glory!


Courtesy of E1 Entertainment

Bella & Jacob
I love that a pic of Bella (Kristen Stewart) & Jacob (Taylor Lautner) is included in the bunch. Seeing this image it feels pretty clear what part of the film it would be from, and again I'm happy they are including it although my memory of the stories told here are spotty at best. But, I'll be all caught up by the time the film is released as re-reading the book is on my 2010 Book to Film Challenge, although first I need to read Wuthering Heights.


Courtesy of E1 Entertainment

Love Triangle: Jacob, Bella and Edward
Yeah, so no one looks really happy here. Can't we all just get along?


Courtesy of E1 Entertainment

Vamp Pack.... to Attack!
Alice, Rosalie, Esme, Jasper and Carlisle are all ready to attack! Although, I'm not sure why each film the hair gets changed, although I love Rosalie's hair. Wow. That's so good hair. Almost makes up for Jasper. Almost. I'm a little surprized at how colour co-ordinated everyone is here. But again, Rosalie wins here too - check out her jacket! Gorgeous! Esme almost looks Bella-like here. Hmm, I wonder what they are looking at in the scene.


The Twilight Saga: Eclipse Poster

I can't tell you how thrilled I am that Bella is front and centre here. Female protagonist for the win! Plus, awesome colour story - stormy, steely goodness.


KRISTEN STEWART and ROBERT PATTINSON star in THE TWILIGHT SAGA ECLIPSE. Photo Kimberley French

Previously released, but as people love the meadow there is no reason not to include it in the set!

Pathfinder

Dir: Marcus Nispel (Friday the 13th (2009))
Cast: Karl Urban, Moon Bloodgood, Russell Means,
USA, 2007

Seen: March 25, 2010

Reason to Watch & Review: For the Sword & Sandal Marathon*

I'm stretching the definitions again for the last installment of the Sword & Sandal Marathon before this weeks release of the Clash of the Titans (2010) with the selection of the 2007 Pathfinder. It's also doing double duty as I get to strike off one more film from my 2010 Own/Unseen Challenge list. I picked up Pathfinder last year, mostly because Karl Urban is in it whom I've been a fan of since Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers where he plays Eomer. He's also in The Bourne Identity, Ghost Ship, The Chronicles of Riddick, but now I think everyone knows him for his spot-on performance as Bones in the 2009 Star Trek. Since I picke dup the film I've also become a fan of Moon Bloodgood (Terminator Salvation) so things were looking promising, no? Not so much. As much as I like both of the actors, they didn't seem to have much to work with in Pathfinder.

This is the only films in the marathon that is actually set in North America, the time line is pre-Columbus and infers post arrival of Vikings. I didn't find this very clear in the film, so I'll admit to help from IMDb here which also states the film is in English and Icelandic. Putting these two things together gives it a Pocahontas meets Predator feel, but imagine the aliens being vikings. Sounds strange I know, but it's as succinct as I can get. The experience of watching it ranged from being confused over the plot to flip flopping back to not really caring. I wanted to care, I really did, but just wasn't happening.

One thing that kept me from connecting with the film was that it was very violent. I would go as far to say extremely violent. I watch lots of action and horror films, but this was really graphic, like blunt objects & blood graphic. So - it that is your thing, you are in luck. For me, not so much.

In terms of a sword & sandals film, it's a stretch - but not as far as a stretch as I originally thought. There are certainly swords and fighting, but the setting makes it so sandals wouldn't be all that practical. That being said, it leads to the one thing I found absolutely glorious about the film: the cinematography. I didn't expect to say this but Pathfinder was a beautiful film to watch for the cinematography. Great use of a cool toned colour story, absolutely magical environments and beautifully diffused light in the backgrounds giving a foggy feel to the beautiful forests. It's no surprized that location listed for the film is British Columbia. I don't think there are trees like that anywhere else in the world.

Yes, out of all things what I got from Pathfinder was it's beauty. Strange, but true. This is why I love doing marathons - you never know what you will end up taking from the films.

Shannon's Overall View:
I didn't love it
I own it, so I'd probably watch it
I'd recommend it as folks who like a combination of epic feel with lots of violence

Return to Film Reviews

© Shannon Ridler, 2010

* The Sword & Sandal Marathon is a 13 week marathon exploring sword & sandal films in anticipation of the 2010 release of Clash of the Titans (2010)

Film Reviews - Malta

Troy *

*indicates co-production

Back to Countries List

Monthly Wallpaper - April 2010: Funny Monsters

Wacky witches, outrageous ogres, mirthful monstrosities and a grim grinning ghost or two ... they are all on display in April's calendar wallpaper salute to the Funny Monsters of the movies.

All you have to do is click on the picture above to enlarge it, then simply right click your mouse and select "Set as Background". (You can also save it to your computer and set it up from there if you prefer.) The size is 1024 x 768, but you can modify it if needed in your own photo-editing program.

Here.... Dragon, Dragon! Canadian, North American, UK & Australian Box Office March 26, 2010 Weekend

This week we have a change up in number 1's after Alice in Wonderland (2010)'s 3-week running streak, How to Train Your Dragon takes the #1 spot in Canada, North America & Australia this week while Nanny McPhee and the Big Bang hits #1 in the UK. I really thought Hot Tub Time Machine would take the cake this week, and it did land in the top 5 in Canada & North America. A good reminder to never under estimate family friendly films, especially when it's up against 18A/R rated comedy.

Top 20 Movies in Canada for the March 26, 2010 weekend
1. How to Train Your Dragon *
2. Alice in Wonderland (2010)
3. The Bounty Hunter
4. Hot Tub Time Machine *
5. Diary of a Wimpy Kid
6. Avatar
7. She's Out of My League
8. Green Zone
9. Shutter Island
10. Repo Men
11. Chloe *
12. The Ghost Writer
13. Remember Me
14. Cop Out
15. The Runaways
16. Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief
17. Crazy Heart
18. The Blind Side
19. Greenberg *
20. The Crazies

Top 20 Movies in North America for the March 26, 2010 weekend
1. How to Train Your Dragon *
2. Alice in Wonderland (2010)
3. Hot Tub Time Machine *
4. The Bounty Hunter
5. Diary of a Wimpy Kid
6. She's Out of My League
7. Green Zone
8. Shutter Island
9. Repo Men
10. Our Family Wedding
11. Avatar
12. Remember Me
13. The Ghost Writer
14. Greenberg *
15. Chloe *
16. Crazy Heart
17. Brooklyn's Finest
18. The Crazies
19. Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief
20. Cop Out

Top 10 Movies in the UK for the March 26, 2010 weekend
1. Nanny McPhee and the Big Bang *
2. Alice in Wonderland (2010)
3. The Blind Side *
4. Shutter Island
5. The Bounty Hunter
6. Green Zone
7. The Spy Next Door
8. I Love You Phillip Morris
9. Shank *
10. Avatar

Top 20 Movies in Australia for the March 25 - 28 2010 weekend
1. How to Train Your Dragon *
2. Alice in Wonderland (2010)
3. The Bounty Hunter
4. Green Zone
5. The Blind Side
6. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo *
7. Cop Out
8. The Hurt Locker
9. Avatar
10. Dear John
11. The Rebound
12. Shutter Island
13. Nanny McPhee and the Big Bang
14. Remember Me
15. The Men Who Stare at Goats
16. A Single Man
17. The Spy Next Door *
18. Brothers
19. The Last Station
20. Precious

* indicates opening weekend in noted location

Source: Canada & North America info, UK info, Australia Info

30th Genie Nominations - film list

List organized by most nominations, then alphabetical. Documentaries and all shorts listed separately at the end as the categories lend themselves to only have 1 nomination per film.

See also: film list with nominations detailed or full nominations list

Polytechnique (11)
NURSE.FIGHTER.BOY (10)
Before Tomorrow (9)
Grande ourse: La clé des possibles / The Master Key (8)
Fifty Dead Men Walking (7)
5150, rue des Ormes / 5150 Elm’s Way (5)
1981 (4)
Love & Savagery (4)
3 Saisons (3)
De père en flic / Father and Guns (3)
Pontypool (3)
Adoration (2)
Babine (2)
Les grandes chaleurs / Heat Wave (2)
One Week (1)
Cairo Time (1)
Les doigts croches / Sticky Fingers (1)
Mothers&Daughters (1)
Trailer Park Boys: Countdown to Liquor Day (1)
Victoria Day (1)
You Might As Well Live (1)

Feature Documentary Nominees - 1 nomination each
A Hard Name
Les Dames En Bleu / Ladies in Blue
Inside Hana's Suitcase
Prom Night in Mississippi
RIP: A Remix Manifesto

Short Film Nominees - 1 nomination each
Danse Macabre
The Delian Mode
Gilles
Passages
Petropolis: Aeriel Perspectives on the Alberta Tar Sands
Princess Margaret Blvd.
Runaway / Train en Folie
The Spine / L'Échine
Terre des Hommes / Land of Men
La Vie Commence / Life Begins
Vive la Rose

TBD:
Claude Jutra Award
Golden Reel Award

30th Genie Nominations - film list with nominations detailed

List organized by most nominations, then alphabetical. Documentaries and all shorts listed separately at the end as the categories lend themselves to only have 1 nomination per film.

See also: film list only or full nominations list

Polytechnique (11)
Best Motion Picture / Meilleur Film - Maxime Rémillard, Don Carmody
Achievement in Direction / Meilleure Réalisation - DENIS VILLENEUVE
Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role / Interprétation Masculine dans un Rôle du Soutien- MAXIM GAUDETTE
Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role / Interprétation Féminine dans un Premier Rôle - KARINE VANASSE
Achievement in Cinematography / Meilleures Images - PIERRE GILL
Achievement in Editing / Meilleur Montage - RICHARD COMEAU
Achievement in Make-up / Meilleurs Maquillages - DJINA CARON, MARTIN RIVEST
Achievement in Music - Original Score / Meilleure Musique Originale - BENOÎT CHAREST
Achievement in Overall Sound / Meilleur Son D'Ensemble - STÉPHANE BERGERON, PIERRE BLAIN, JO CARON, BENOÎT LEDUC
Achievement in Sound Editing / Meilleur Montage Sonore - CLAUDE BEAUGRAND, GUY FRANCOEUR, CAROLE GAGNON, CHRISTIAN RIVEST
Original Screenplay / Meilleur Scénario - JACQUES DAVIDTS

NURSE.FIGHTER.BOY (10)
Best Motion Picture / Meilleur Film - Ingrid Veninger
Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role / Interprétation Féminine dans un Premier Rôle KAREN LEBLANC
Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role / Interprétation Masculine dans un Premier Rôle - CLARK JOHNSON
Achievement in Art Direction, Production Design / Meilleure Direction Artistique - DIANA ABBATANGELO
Achievement in Cinematography / Meilleures Images - STEVE COSENS
Achievement in Costume Design / Meilleurs Costumes - SARAH ARMSTRONG
Achievement in Direction / Meilleure Réalisation - CHARLES OFFICER
Achievement in Sound Editing / Meilleur Montage Sonore - GARRETT KERR, FRED BRENNAN, PAUL GERMANN, STEVE HAMMOND, MISHANN LAU
Achievement in Music - Original Song / Meilleure Chanson Originale JOHN WELSMAN, CHERIE CAMP – Oh Love
Original Screenplay / Meilleur Scénario - CHARLES OFFICER, INGRID VENINGER

Before Tomorrow (9)
Best Motion Picture / Meilleur Film - Stéphane Rituit
Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role / Interprétation Masculine dans un Premier Rôle - PAUL DYLAN IVALU
Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role / Interprétation Féminine dans un Premier Rôle - MADELINE PIUJUQ IVALU
Achievement in Art Direction, Production Design / Meilleure Direction Artistique - SUSAN AVINGAQ
Achievement in Costume Design / Meilleurs Costumes - ATUAT AKITTIRQ
Achievement in Direction / Meilleure Réalisation - MARIE-HÉLÈNE COUSINEAU, MADELINE PIUJUQ IVALU
Achievement in Music - Original Song / Meilleure Chanson Originale - SUSAN AVINGAQ – Pamani
Achievement in Overall Sound / Meilleur Son D'Ensemble - RICHARD LAVOIE, ARNAUD DERIMAY, JEAN-CHARLES DESJARDINS, BERNARD GARIÉPY STROBL
Adapted Screenplay / Meilleure Adaptation - MARIE-HÉLÈNE COUSINEAU, SUSAN AVINGAQ, MADELINE PIUJUQ IVALU

Grande ourse: La clé des possibles / The Master Key (8)
Achievement in Art Direction, Production Design / Meilleure Direction Artistique - JEAN BABIN
Achievement in Cinematography / Meilleures Images - RONALD PLANTE
Achievement in Costume Design / Meilleurs Costumes - CARMEN ALIE
Achievement in Editing / Meilleur Montage - MICHEL GROU
Achievement in Make-up / Meilleurs Maquillages - DJINA CARON
Achievement in Music - Original Score / Meilleure Musique Originale - NORMAND CORBEIL
Achievement in Overall Sound / Meilleur Son D'Ensemble - MARIO AUCLAIR, DANIEL BISSON, LUC BOUDRIAS, JEAN-CHARLES DESJARDINS
Achievement in Sound Editing / Meilleur Montage Sonore - PIERRE-JULES AUDET, MICHELLE CLOUTIER, JACQUES PLANTE, JEAN-FRANÇOIS SAUVÉ

Fifty Dead Men Walking (7)
Best Motion Picture / Meilleur Film - Shawn Williamson, Stephen Hegyes, Peter La Terriere, Kari Skogland
Achievement in Direction / Meilleure Réalisation - KARI SKOGLAND
Achievement in Art Direction, Production Design / Meilleure Direction Artistique - EVE STEWART
Achievement in Cinematography / Meilleures Images - JONATHAN FREEMAN
Achievement in Editing / Meilleur Montage - JIM MUNRO
Achievement in Music - Original Score / Meilleure Musique Originale - BEN MINK
Adapted Screenplay / Meilleure Adaptation - KARI SKOGLAND

5150, rue des Ormes / 5150 Elm’s Way (5)
Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role / Interprétation Féminine dans un Rôle de Soutien - SONIA VACHON
Achievement in Editing / Meilleur Montage - ALAIN BARIL
Achievement in Music - Original Score / Meilleure Musique Originale - CHRISTIAN CLERMONT
Achievement in Overall Sound / Meilleur Son D'Ensemble - SIMON GOULET, BERNARD GARIÉPY STROBL
Achievement in Sound Editing / Meilleur Montage Sonore - MATHIEU BEAUDIN, JACQUES PLANTE

1981 (4)
Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role / Interprétation Masculine dans un Premier Rôle - JEAN-CARL BOUCHER
Achievement in Art Direction, Production Design / Meilleure Direction Artistique - PATRICE VERMETTE
Achievement in Costume Design / Meilleurs Costumes - ANNE-KARINE GAUTHIER
Achievement in Make-up / Meilleurs Maquillages - MICHELINE TRÉPANIER, LINDA GORDON

Love & Savagery (4)
Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role / Interprétation Féminine dans un Rôle de Soutien - MARTHA BURNS
Achievement in Make-up / Meilleurs Maquillages - DIANE SIMARD, RÉJEAN GODERRE
Achievement in Music - Original Score / Meilleure Musique Originale - BERTRAND CHÉNIER
Achievement in Overall Sound / Meilleur Son D'Ensemble - CLAUDE HAZANAVICIUS, DANIEL BISSON, JEAN-CHARLES DESJARDINS, BERNARD GARIÉPY STROBL

3 Saisons (3)
Best Motion Picture / Meilleur Film - Maude Bouchard, Jim Donovan, Sandy Martinez, Bruno Rosato
Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role / Interprétation Féminine dans un Premier Rôle - CARINNE LEDUC
Achievement in Editing / Meilleur Montage - FRANÇOIS NORMANDIN, JIM DONOVAN

De père en flic / Father and Guns (3)
Original Screenplay / Meilleur Scénario - ÉMILE GAUDREAULT, IAN LAUZON
Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role / Interprétation Masculine dans un Rôle du Soutien - PATRICK DROLET
Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role / Interprétation Masculine dans un Rôle du Soutien - RÉMY GIRARD

Pontypool (3)
Achievement in Direction / Meilleure Réalisation - BRUCE MCDONALD
Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role / Interprétation Masculine dans un Premier Rôle - STEPHEN MCHATTIE
Adapted Screenplay / Meilleure Adaptation - TONY BURGESS

Adoration (2)
Original Screenplay / Meilleur Scénario - ATOM EGOYAN
Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role / Interprétation Masculine dans un Rôle du Soutien - SCOTT SPEEDMAN

Babine (2)
Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role / Interprétation Féminine dans un Rôle de Soutien - ISABEL RICHER
Achievement in Sound Editing / Meilleur Montage Sonore - OLIVIER CALVERT, NATALIE FLEURANT, FRANCINE POIRIER, LISE WEDLOCK

Les grandes chaleurs / Heat Wave (2)
Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role / Interprétation Féminine dans un Rôle de Soutien - MARIE BRASSARD
Achievement in Music - Original Song / Meilleure Chanson Originale - SARI DAJANI, IOHANN MARTIN, RUDY TOUSSAINT, JOHN VON AICHLINGER – Bon Swa

One Week (1)
Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role / Interprétation Masculine dans un Premier Rôle - JOSHUA JACKSON
Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role / Interprétation Féminine dans un Rôle de Soutien - LIANE BALABAN

Cairo Time (1)
Achievement in Costume Design / Meilleurs Costumes - BRENDA BROER

Les doigts croches / Sticky Fingers (1)
Achievement in Cinematography / Meilleures Images - ALLEN SMITH

Mothers&Daughters (1)
Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role / Interprétation Féminine dans un Premier Rôle - GABRIELLE ROSE

Trailer Park Boys: Countdown to Liquor Day (1)
Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role / Interprétation Masculine dans un Rôle du Soutien - JOHN DUNSWORTH

Victoria Day (1)
Original Screenplay / Meilleur Scénario - DAVID BEZMOZGIS

You Might As Well Live (1)
Achievement in Make-up / Meilleurs Maquillages ROBBI O’QUINN, LEANNE MORRISON-FREED

Feature Documentary Nominees - 1 nomination each
A Hard Name
Les Dames En Bleu / Ladies in Blue
Inside Hana's Suitcase
Prom Night in Mississippi
RIP: A Remix Manifesto

Short Film Nominees - 1 nomination each
Danse Macabre
The Delian Mode
Gilles
Passages
Petropolis: Aeriel Perspectives on the Alberta Tar Sands
Princess Margaret Blvd.
Runaway / Train en Folie
The Spine / L'Échine
Terre des Hommes / Land of Men
La Vie Commence / Life Begins
Vive la Rose

TBD:
Claude Jutra Award
Golden Reel Award

DVD Releases March 30, 2010

This weeks DVD releases seem a little like slim pickings but there are some gems within those pickings for March 30, 2010. Let's have a look!

It seems so quick to already be getting DVD releases of 2009 close to end of year releases. But, this can be a good thing when the films are so good. First up is An Education, an absolutely fabulous film that received so many nominations last year and won several awards for Carey Mulligan's performance in this coming of age tale set in 1960s London and based on the memoir by Lynn Barber. On a completely different we have Guy Ritchie's fun action-centric take of Sherlock Holmes starring Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law.

Also award happy but from 2009 is the Oscar nominated German film The Baader Meinhof Complex, along with Netherlands/Russian/Ukraine co-pro Duska and brothers road trip indie film Easier with Practice.

If you are doc happy you are in luck this week with several films to choose from including water loving IMAX: Under the Sea, corporate questioning The Yes Men Fix the World (DVD releas is Thursday April 1, 2010 release) and a look at the process of getting on to the show "Pop Idol" in Afghanistan Afghan Star.

Fans of John Woo's classic The Killer can rejoice. The Chow Yun-Fat starring film which was previously out of print film is now being released by Dragon Dynasty on Blu-Ray & DVD. This was one of the hardest films to find on my original 101 Films To See List and ended up being one of the last films I found and saw, although I did eventually ending up finding it but it wasn't as easy as heading over to amazon like it is now!

Titles on Amazon.ca (Canada):


Titles on Amazon.com (US):


Duska will be released in the States on April 20, 2010:

Cinéfranco 2010 Day 4 - Monday March 29, 2010

Day 4 of the festival and took a bit of a quieter approach getting to see just one of the films being screened, but it was a fantastic documentary so it all worked out!

Africorama
Dir: Richard Lacombe
Documentary
Canada

Africorama follows three people from Quebec who go to Africa on separate journeys to contribute on international cooperation missions, but with either intentional or happy accident personal journeys as well. From new friendships formed to exploring personal history, we learn so much about the culture and connections through each of the experiences of the travellers. I really enjoyed that there was always a focus first and learning and absorbing the environments they came to, before recommending change. A greater understanding starts by simply listening. I also found it beautiful that although all three travelled with the intent to help and support, it's undeniable that they were all positively affected by the experience and relationships that formed along the way.

Cinéfranco 2010 runs from March 26 - April 3, 2010 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Week in Film Vlog: March 29, 2010

Cinéfranco: Le Divan du Monde, Le Coach, Eden a L'Ouest, 3 Saisons & see Cinéfranco website
Poster: The Wild Hunt (review) opens April 9, 2010 (correction: it played at TIFF, Canada's Top Ten and Slamdance)
Theatrical: Mother, Chloe, Cooking with Stella
Random: Somersault
Sword & Sandal: Pathfinder

Cinéfranco 2010 Day 3 - Sunday March 28, 2010

Day 3 at Cinéfranco had a great range of films. The comedies ran strong with family friendly Le petit Nicolas / Little Nicholas and need a family quick Tricheuse / So Woman!, I found myself really taken in by the dramas of the day. The haunting immigrant tale of Eden à l'Ouest / Eden Is West was captivating and centred in an absolutely fantastic performance by Riccardo Scamarcio. But the highlight of the day was ending off with a screening of the emotionally powerful and three-time Genie nominated 3 saisons / 3 Seasons with director/co-writer Jim Donovan and co-writer/actress Carinne Leduc were in attendance at the screening.



Eden à l'Ouest / Eden Is West
Dir: Costa-Gavras
Cast: Riccardo Scamarcio, Juliane Köhler, Odysseas Papaspiliopoulos
France/Greece/Italy

Eden à l'Ouest / Eden Is West follows Elias, an illegal immigrant through his journey for a better life. Never knowing what will happen next and constantly keeping a watchful eye, he navigates his way from one unknown situation to the next. Riccardo Scamarcio gives a stand out performance as Elias, and keeps the audiences so so involved in this film. He's got the hunger for freedom, but a you can always see the fear lurking inside keeping him on edge and ready to bolt if backed into a corner. And his steely eyes drawn in a lot of the ladies along the way, although in an interesting take here is they always seemed more interested him that vice versa. I love how much the film kept ambiguous, which keeps the viewer in a virtual parallel to the experience Elias has of being in a new country and not knowing where he be next and often communicating more in instinctual reaction as opposed to common ground through language.



Le petit Nicolas / Little Nicholas
Dir: Laurent Tirard
Cast: Maxime Godart, Valérie Lemercier, Kad Merad, Sandrine Kiberlain, Vincent Claude, Victor Carles
France

I totally didn't anticipate digging this one. Kids movie, comedy, lots of kids in the house, but wow it was a lot of fun. It has a great whimsical energy to it and takes the idea of one misconception going really wrong and following through on that through and through. Following Nicolas and his friends as they try to fix the scenario, we are treated to the crazy creativity of solutions only kids would think of to solve their problems. Refreshing, inviting and optimistic the film completely charmed the audience over, myself included.

3 saisons / 3 Seasons
Dir: Jim Donovan
Cast: Caroline Néron, Romano Orzari, Carinne Leduc, Shawn Baichoo, Frank Schorpion
Canada

3 saisons / 3 Seasons was easily the most anticipated film for me this year at Cinéfranco. Toronto gets a lot of films released, but we don't get everything and it pains me when a Genie nominations film doesn't hit the screens. But, festival come to our rescue and therefore the three time Genie nominated 3 saisons / 3 Seasons (Best Motion Picture, Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role for Carinne Leduc & Film Editing) played last night. What a powerhouse films. After finally seeing it, I'm surprized it wasn't nominated for writing and directing as well. Following several relationships with common themes, we see the world through many different eyes and lives, but are subtly aware that all life is connected. It's that beautiful subtly and strong performances that make 3 saisons / 3 Seasons a cut above. The films is graceful even when dealing with harsh subject matter, which is so refreshing. It doesn't shy away from the harshness, but doesn't dwell in it visually and it doesn't need to because the audience can help but feels as we are invested in all characters in film, flaws and all. There is a beautiful honesty in the film, one that makes the lives of the characters feel so real that feel right alongside them every step of the way. Beautiful, bold and brilliant, 3 saisons / 3 Seasons is a must see.

3 saisons / 3 Seasons has a repeat screening on Wednesday March 31, 2010 at the Revue Cinema at 9pm. I highly recommend checking it out.

Cinéfranco 2010 runs from March 26 - April 3, 2010 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Before the Dawn: A Twilight Podcast - Episode 44: Remember Me Spoilerific Review

Before the Dawn: A Twilight Podcast - Episode 44 is up!

This week on Before the Dawn: A Twilight Podcast we shift slightly from the Twilight world and Marina & I have a no holds barred spoilerific review of the latest Robert Pattinson flick Remember Me. And I really mean spoilerific. If you want spoiler free check out my written review, otherwise come on over to Before the Dawn and listen to us chat about every aspect of the film.

Before the Dawn: A Twilight Podcast is a weekly 1/2 hour podcast meeting all your audio Twilight needs!

Hot Docs 2010 Announcements

Excited about Hot Docs 2010? I know I am! It looks like another amazing year for the festival and although I've already written about some of the exciting films I am looking forward to, I thought I would also share some of the announcements from earlier last week about this years festival. Enjoy!

Executive Director Chris McDonald on the festivals Opening Night films"


Managing Director Brett Hendrie on High Profile films at this years festival:


Canadian Programmers Lynne Fernie & Gisele Gordon on the Canadian Program (Part 1):


Canadian Programmers Lynne Fernie & Gisele Gordon on the Canadian Program (Part 2):


Director of Programming Sean Farnel on the recent success of documentary film:

Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival runs from April 29 - May 9, 2010 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Reel Thoughts Interview: Ch-Ch-Ch-Cherry Bomb!

Kristen Stewart trades Bella’s problems with vampires and werewolves in the Twilight movies for a ride on the wild side as Joan Jett in The Runaways. The movie, which also stars Dakota Fanning and Michael Shannon, is about the girl group The Runaways that formed in 1975 and launched the careers of Jett, Cherie Curry and Lita Ford with hits like “Cherry Bomb”.

I recently spoke with The Runaways co-producer David Grace, who has worked on films like American Gun and the lesbian fave What’s Cooking? He was also executive producer on the television show Even Stevens, which launched Shia LeBeouf’s career.

NC: Kristin Stewart's career is on fire. How did her involvement help or hinder the production? How do you feel about her performance as Joan Jett?
DG: Kristen's involvement was a real help to the picture, getting someone of her caliber to play Joan Jett made the project go, and she's amazing in the role. She and Joan spent a lot of time together and I think it really shaped her performance. She really became Joan.

NC: What about Dakota Fanning? How do you feel about her work in The Runaways?
DG: I've worked with a lot of great young actors in my career, but Dakota's in another league. She has such amazing instincts as an actress, she is really remarkable. I think one of the things that makes this movie special is the fact that we have teenagers playing these roles. The Runaways were so young when the band formed, and I think having people who are the same age as they were when it happened makes the story much more powerful. I don't think it would be the same if there were 23-year-olds playing these parts.

NC: As a producer, what kind of thought goes into choosing your projects? What film or films are you most proud of having done?
DG: The most important thing to me is the story, because a film is only as good as the story it tells. That is what drew me to The Runaways. It's amazing what these girls went through as teenagers. The Runaways is certainly one of the movies I'm most proud of, along with What's Cooking? and a little movie called Keith.

NC: What was it like premiering The Runaways at Sundance?
DG: There is nothing like being at Sundance with a movie that has that much buzz going.

NC: What is your favorite thing about The Runaways?
DG: It really has the feel of the period down, it looks great and I think the three leads, Kristen, Dakota and Michael Shannon, are all amazing. I think those performances are what stands out the most for me.

UPDATE: The Runaways is now available on DVD and Blu-ray from Amazon.com.

Interview by Neil Cohen, resident film critic of Movie Dearest and Phoenix's Echo Magazine.

Cinéfranco 2010 Day 2 - Saturday March 27, 2010

Day 2 at Cinéfranco was all comedy, all the time. Yep, all three films I saw were from France and comedies, spanning topics from crazy pooch antics with Bambou to subversive coaching in Le Coach. In between those two I caught Une semaine sur deux (et la moitié des vacances scolaires), which has lots of funny moments but is really a dramety. It was great to spend the day giggle in the dark with a great set of French film.

Bambou / Bamboo
Dir: Didier Bourdon
Cast: Didier Bourdon, Anne Consigny, Pierre Ardidt, Eddy Mitchell, Anny Duperey
France

I was very surprized to see a comedy that at first look seemed to be about really disliking a dog. That was a new one. I mean, dogs can be troublesome yes, but who could dislike the cutie pie cocker spaniel Bambou? Turns out that if the dog is causing problems, looks like there were already problems there. Along with the the dog Bambou, we follow the couples life that she becomes a part of as their relationship goes from bad to worse. The film is a cute comedy as it follows it's new dog owners and their oddball adventures involving everyone from neighbours, co-workers to even ragtag petty criminal friends yet somehow manages to keep it all together. And all the very cute dog moments help.

Une semaine sur deux (et la moitié des vacances scolaires) / Alternate Weeks (and Half the Vacation)
Writer/Dir: Ivan Calbérac
Cast: Bertille Chabert, Bernard Campan, Mathilde Seigner, Danièle Lebrun, Grégori Derangère, Judith Davis, Jean-Baptiste Fonck
France

If you can't tell grom the very succinct title, this films follows a family transitioning after a divorce as they opt for alternate week (and half the vacation) style custody for the kid, 12 year old Léa and her younger brother Maxime. With this premise it's amazing how beautifully all the different relationships are explored through the changing family dynamics as well as new people being added to the mix. While there is fair share of focus on both the parents, it's really our 12 year old protagonist Léa (played by Bertille Chabert), who keeps us strikingly centred throughout the film with her own gentle coming of age. Bernard Campan is absolutely lovely as the Calins Gratuits (free hug) giving father François who's all, in theory, about being open and talking directly with concrete suggestions to both of his 12 and younger kids. It's a refreshingly gracious family portrait of transition, growing and learning to live with lives with open hearts.

Le coach / The Coach
Dir: Olivier Doran
Cast: Richard Berry, Jean-Paul Rouve, Anne Marivin, Mélanie Bernier
France

Absolutely fantastic film following a professional coach for hire on an unusual case that needs to taken care of swiftly and quietly. An insightful and often hilarious look at human nature, the film easily showcases how the complexities of life and how unique and individual people can be. Anyone interested in human behaviour will get a kick out of Le coach, for it draws us in on curiosity but also charms us over in a heart beat. The writing is pitch perfect as well, playing out with an almost heist like caper film, even though set in a white collar business world. Great characters, stellar performances and a fantastic premise, Le coach hits it home on all fronts.

Cinéfranco 2010 runs from March 26 - April 3, 2010 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Cinéfranco 2010 Day 1 - Friday March 26, 2010

Opening Night at Cinéfranco started off with a packed house at the AMC 6 for the Ontario Premiere of Le divan du monde / Everybody’s Couch. The energy in the room was great and it was awesome to hear so much French and English buzzing around all in the same setting. The introduction to the film, and the festival itself, was mostly made in French and I was impressed that I followed along pretty well for most of it considering my French is pretty rudimentary. But, I did know where I was and what I’d be seeing, but it felt understand what I was hearing nonetheless. It all starts somewhere.

One thing that was very clear is the festival voting system for the films – they give you a ballot before the screening and afterwards you give it to one of two people when you leave. If you like it, you give it to the person in the green shirt. If you didn’t like it, you give it to the person in the red shirt. No scale or numbers here, it's a straight up yes or no. Very clear cut choices, I’ll be curious to see how the voting goes.



Le divan du monde / Everybody’s Couch
Dir: Dominic Desjardins
Cast: Mélanie Leblanc, Antoine Gratton, Marc Lamontagne
Canada

Le divan du monde / Everybody’s Couch follows Zoé (Mélanie Leblanc) looking to head home to the East Coast after a break up. How often do we see a confident female traveller? Not enough I say - this was entirely refreshing. I loved the honesty and strength of Zoé, in a great performance by Mélanie Leblanc who shows the graciousness yet acutely aware of her surroundings and the people around her and has a direct yet polite air about her. A little less adept at this is Alex (Antoine Gratton), whose inadvertent companionship adds a little bit of everything, including comedy to the journey. Antoine Gratton plays Alex with an amazing openness but an openness that often gets clouded by shyness, it's a fine balance that feels so very natural. Between the two travellers, what we end up with is a completely new kind of road movie, one that defies expectations but brings tenderness and humanity to the forefront. The gentle relationship portrayed between the two leads unfolds beautifully and naturally over time, and is a huge highlight of the film Described as being filmed on a micro budget, and there are times you get a slight sense of that, but nothing that would break the moment you are in. The film is all about the journey, and it was beautiful to see the independent yet concurrent journeys.

I also loved that the film fluxed between French and English, although it was predominantly in French. It gives it a beautiful, and truly Canadian, feel.

Director Dominic Desjardins was in attendance for the screening and there was a Q&A after the film. I didn't catch all of it because the questions were answered in the language asked, but what I did get was the score of the film was composed by Antoine Gratton who plays Alex in the film and is a musician.

Cinéfranco 2010 runs from March 26 - April 3, 2010 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Film Fan Fridays for Friday March 26, 2010!

Hello Film Fans and Fanatics!

Welcome to Film Fan Fridays for Friday March 26, 2010! We have quite the busy week for film with 8 regular releases, 1 mid-week release and three festivals. Yep, that's Toronto for you! I also wanted to mention to any space & earth fans (if that is even a grouping) that IMAX: Hubble 3D is playing up at the Ontario Science Centre. It came out last week but technically is a short film not a feature and the Ontario Science Centre feels very far (and technically 'North York') so doesn't make the regular listings, but since I heard it was pretty awesome I thought I'd share the space love.

In limited release this week we have 5 films to choose from. First up is the latest from The Host / Gwoemul director, Bong Joon-ho whose new film is Mother. No crazy sea monsters this time, but rather a focus on the strength and persistence of one mother for her child. It did very well on the festival circuit and I'm happy to see it get a regular release. Next up is one I'm very surprized to see have only a limited release, and that is Noam Baumbach (The Squid and the Whale) latest, Greenberg starring Ben Stiller as a man who decides to pretty much do nothing. The trailer has been playing all over the place and it looks like a solid film. Next up are two documentaries, first is music centric Neil Young Trunk Show as well as more investigative approach with The Coca-Cola Case. Last up for limited releases is the New York City set drama City Island.

In wide release this week we have three releases this Friday starting with Atom Egoyan's latest, Chloe an interesting suspense/thriller that is unabashedly set in Toronto and stars Julianne Moore, Amanda Seyfried and Liam Neeson. We also have the very cute looking animated film How to Train Your Dragon that looks like it truly has a heart of gold, and is our 2nd 3D release of the year and is playing in 2D, 3D and IMAX 3D (check your local listings). Last up for this weeks wide releases is Hot Tub Time Machine and I wonder if this comedy is going to take it all this weekend - lots of people seem excited about it and goofy title really sticks with you, and is... funny.. because it appears to be exactly what the film is about. Literally.

We also have a Wednesday March 31, 2010 release of The Last Song, an adaptation of a Nicholas Sparks novel starring Miley Cyrus and Greg Kinnear. Looks touching (oh my goodness, I'm going soft) but I have absolutely no idea why there is a mid week release of it. Also, if you are die-hard looking forward to Clash of the Titans (2010), evening screenings have appeared for Thursday April 1, 2010 at AMC Yonge & Dundas here if Toronto. Woohoo!

Festival fever has hit the T-dot. Be sure to check out my coverage of Cinéfranco here at Movie Moxie from March 26 - April 3, 2010.

Have a great weekend!

Shannon

Festival Watch

Banff Mountain Film Festival
March 26 - 28, 2010 at the Bloor Cinema in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

The Female Eye Film Festival
March 24 – 28, 2010 at various locations in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Cinéfranco
13th Annual Celebration of International Francophone Cinema
March 26 - April 3, 2010 at in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Friday March 26, 2010 Releases

Chloe
Dir: Atom Egoyan (Adoration, The Sweet Hereafter)
Cast: Julianne Moore, Amanda Seyfried, Liam Neeson, Max Thieroit, Nina Dobrev
Canada/USA/France
Official Film Site, IMDb Page, Trailer

City Island
Dir: Raymond De Felitta (The Thing About My Folks, Cafe Society)
Cast: Andy Garcia, Julianna Margulies, Emily Mortimer
USA
Limited Release
Official Film Site & Trailer, IMDb Page

The Coca-Cola Case
Dir: Carmen Garcia & German Gutierrez - feature film directorial debuts
Documentary
Canada
Limited Release
Official Film Site, IMDb Page, Trailer

Greenberg
Dir: Noam Baumbach (The Squid and the Whale)
Cast: Ben Stiller, Greta Gerwig, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Rhys Ifans
USA
Limited Release
Official Film Site, IMDb Page, Trailer

Hot Tub Time Machine
Dir: Steve Pink (Accepted)
Cast: John Cusack, Rob Corddry, Craig Robinson, Clark Duke, Chevy Chase
USA
Official Film Site, IMDb Page, Trailer

How to Train Your Dragon (3D)
Dir: Dean DeBlois and Chris Sanders (Lilo & Stitch)
Voices: Jay Baruchel, America Ferrera, Gerard Butler, Kristin Wiig
USA
Official Film Site, IMDb Page, Trailer

Mother / Madeo
Dir: Bong Joon-ho (The Host / Gwoemul)
Cast: Kim Hye-ja, Won Bin, Goo Jin, Jae-Moon Yoon,
South Korea
Limited Release
Official Film Site, IMDb Page, Trailer

Neil Young Trunk Show
Dir: Jonathan Demme (Rachel Getting Married, The Manchurian Candidate (2004))
Documentary
The Netherlands/USA/Canada
Limited Release
Official Film Site, IMDb Page, Trailer

Wednesday March 31, 2010 Releases

The Last Song
Dir: Julie Anne Robinson - feature film directorial debut
Cast: Miley Cyrus, Greg Kinnear, Bobby Coleman, Liam Hemsworth, Kelly Preston
USA
Official Film Site, IMDb Page, Trailer
**please note this list of releases reflects first run film released in Toronto, Ontario, Canada as of March 26, 2010**

Chloe

Amanda Seyfried and Julianne Moore as Chloe and Catherine

Dir: Atom Egoyan (Adoration, The Sweet Hereafter)
Cast: Julianne Moore, Amanda Seyfried, Liam Neeson, Max Thieroit, Nina Dobrev
Canada/USA/France, 2010

Reason to see: Atom Egoyan films are always must sees in my book

Atom Egoyan's latest film brings us a suspense thriller based centred on how much we trust the ones we love. Playing with questions like: How far would you go? What kind of role would you take to find out more. An active one? A passive one? Would you bring others into the mix on this ... exploration? is a fascinating place to begin. We begin alongside Catherine, played by Julianne Moore, who ponders these questions while questioning her husband David's (Liam Neeson) fidelity.

Julianne Moore is fantastic as Catherine, pairing emotional fragility with a strong desire for the truth. It's a great character which brings the suspicious wife idea to a whole new level by pushing the boundaries to search for the truth. We also have a stunning turn for Amanda Seyfried whom carries the sexy title role with maturity and grace, she's charismatic and mysterious and pulls us right into the screen. I was very impressed with this transition to a more adult role, though there were just a few moments where I was slightly confused and something felt a little off. But, she was great the vast majority of the time. Liam Neeson delivers a perfect performance as the husband David. I also have to say that it's a refreshing to see film that although it's about the relationships, it's predominately focused on the female characters, and in essence the guy is literally 'the husband'.

I enjoyed the tone of Chloe, a lot. The tension is held very well giving it the perfect current for the thriller aspect of the film, keeping the the viewers curiosity level engaged at all times. The balance of intrigue and emotion keep the film driving forward at all times. The suspense is played very well, and I know that I'm already curious to watch it a second time round.

I loved seeing it set so clearly in Toronto, and I'm sure fellow Torontonians will appreciate the setting as much as I did. From Cafe Diplimatico to Allen Gardens to Yorkville we get to see many of the great downtown spots of our city. It's fun to pick out all the familiar places and ponder where others could be.

Overall I found it to be a strong drama-based thriller with very interesting and unique characters brought to life with intensity from the lead actors. My emotions as well as curiosity & mind were engaged throughout the entire film.

Shannon's Overall View:
I enjoyed it
I'll watch it again
I'd recommend it to fans of drama-based thrillers

See also: Chloe DVD Review

Return to Film Reviews

© Shannon Ridler, 2010


Liam Neeson in CHLOE, Courtesy of E1 Entertainment


Amanda Seyfried as Chloe, Courtesy of E1 Entertainment

Reverend's Reviews: Scared Sheepless

No one can tell a ghost story quite as effectively as the Irish, and the new supernatural thriller The Eclipse (from Magnolia Pictures, opening today in NYC and southern CA) proves it. Directed and co-written by acclaimed playwright Conor McPherson (The Weir, Shining City) and drawn from a story by co-writer Billy Roche, I guarantee it will both move you and scare the bejeesus out of you.

Michael Farr (Ciarán Hinds) is still grieving the death of his wife two years prior, while trying to raise their son and daughter as a single parent and looking after his late love's elderly father (played by Jim Norton, who recently starred as Finian in the Broadway revival of Finian's Rainbow). Michael is a local school teacher who is also involved in organizing his town's annual, popular literary festival.

As this year's festival looms, Michael begins to see and hear ghostly phenomenon while he becomes simultaneously attracted to a woman for the first time since his wife passed away. The woman who catches Michael's interest is Lena (Danish actress Iben Hjejle), a novelist who happens to write — you guessed it — ghost stories.

Complicating matters even more is another writer in town for the literary festival, Nicholas Holden (a great, surly turn by the usually noble Aidan Quinn; case in point: Quinn played a gay man dying of AIDS in the mid-80's TV classic, An Early Frost). Holden has a crush on Lena bordering on the obsessive, and matters of the heart build to an explosive confrontation between him, the object of his affection, and Michael.

Like the best ghost stories (and I'm thinking most immediately of the classic The Turn of the Screw by Henry James), The Eclipse leads viewers to question whether the spooky visions Michael is experiencing are truly supernatural or figments of his delicate psychological/emotional state. Even though director McPherson occasionally makes the film's scares louder and ickier than they need to be, they are most effective. I jumped in my seat several times.

Hinds is wonderful as the bereaved husband and father questioning his sanity. Usually cast in authoritative and/or villainous roles (Richard III, King Herod in The Nativity Story, Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life), Hinds is down-to-earth and sympathetic here. Whether it's a good fright film or a resonant love story you're looking for, The Eclipse satisfies on both counts.

Cut to a different continent and a different genre for another satisfactory movie opening exclusively at the Landmark Nuart Theatre in Los Angeles today, Sweetgrass. This unique documentary about Montana sheepherders and their flock will no doubt evoke memories of Brokeback Mountain for gay viewers, even if none of the cowboys featured here are gay.

Described in the film's press notes as "an unsentimental elegy to the American West," Sweetgrass recounts a final, summer-long pasture drive covering approximately 300 kilometers that occurred in 2003. Beautiful, unspoiled expanses of nature await the shepherds, but so do unpredictable weather, harsh terrain posing risks of injury, and hungry grizzly bears.

Sweetgrass, which was directed and largely photographed — superbly — by Lucien Castaing-Taylor, is mostly wordless and better for it. One shepherd's foul-mouthed tirade late in the film reveals the depths of his frustration, but it also throws off the tonal equilibrium established by that point.

Indeed, Sweetgrass is best when focused on the sheep. At times, they stare silently at the still camera, seemingly daring it to venture deeper beneath their fluffy exteriors. The flock is multi-generational and probably couldn't care less about what the filmmakers are trying to capture: the end of a tradition spanning at least 130 years. The sheep may be more aware than us that life will go on.

UPDATE: The Eclipse is available on DVD and Blu-ray and Sweetgrass is available on DVD now from Amazon.com.

Review by Rev. Chris Carpenter, resident film critic of Movie Dearest and the Orange County and Long Beach Blade.